Corporate Carbon Footprint: Steps towards a Brighter Business
There is no need to mention how fast our Earth is depleting. With all the gifts of Mother Nature falling short each second, there’s hardly any help we can offer to the planet. But of course, tightening the reins of this damage is still possible.
But how? No matter how aware one becomes, we still need fuel to run our cars, water to do the laundry, air to breathe in, veggies to eat, and flame to cook. Each of these necessities harms the environment in the long run, after all. So what remains with us?
For over a decade, with so many advancements in the field of science there has never remained a set ‘method’ to lead life. In this scenario, it is important for everyone to evolve with the ever-changing lifestyle.
Apart from common sense, civic sense, business sense, and what not, ecological sense has been widely accepted as a proper coaching in its own. It is the skill of utilizing just as much natural or artificial resources as is necessary. Overuse not just brings the risk of harming the ecological balance, but also of not leaving enough for the coming generations.
What is Corporate Carbon Footprint?
Simply defined, Corporate Carbon Footprint is calculating a carbon footprint for all the business activities of an organization. It measures all greenhouse gases that occur along the value chain in the organization. Companies these days are becoming increasingly conscious of this fact, and have begun to act responsibly about it. After all, it is the office where we spend a major part of our awake time. Maintaining an earth-friendly approach during those hours will go a long way.
An interesting measure that workplaces have widely adopted is to measure their carbon footprint, and to display it across their social presence.
We will tell you more about the benefits of this.
- Good public reputation
As per the findings of a recently-held social survey, 75% customers are more likely to associate with a company that has undergone a carbon audit. Displaying it loud and clear highlights the company’s proactive leadership. An organization can lead by example, and what could be better than having a hold on their environmental, social and governance issues! It casts them in a good light, and helps them establish long-lasting public relations.
- Cost-saving measures
Getting a carbon audit done for the company can help one identify the problem areas. Bringing little changes in the functioning can bring a drastic reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions. Apart from that, teaming it up with special training sessions for the employees will educate them on these good environmental practices. It can help you with cutting down on your operational costs.
- One notch up
It is an increasingly competitive marketplace. If yours is a large company, or you work in an emission-intensive industry, there can be some great benefits coming your way for stepping into the voluntary segment.
Besides positioning your business well amongst the counterparts, it also gives you a competitive edge. Being carbon neutral helps you in creating some brand differentiation. Also, it will prepare your business well to deal with the challenges that climate changes could pose before it.
- Increased public awareness
The ethics that a company maintains externally and internally is what inspires the potential customer base and the employees alike. It is progressively important to keep you in their good books. Having a good ecological sense sends out a loud and clear message about your commitment for the environment. Putting it up on your website or other external communication actively speaks volumes about your business ethics in general.
- Better business connections
Looking at how the classes and masses are shifting to the organic, fair trade and free range products, there is definitely a notable shift in the people’s approach. Owing to the same, the Carbon management marketplace has also encountered a demand unlike ever before, and it is sure to rise in the coming times.
For a company, to cater to its target buyers’ immediate demands in time is the best way to gain popularity. Even the business to business dealings are undergoing a vast shift in mindset. Companies look for like-minded companies to complete their business with.
The software giant Sun Microsystems first devised ways to cut its Carbon footprint, and then went on to find long-term ways to manage it. In the first year after first measuring its carbon footprint, they saw a 4% decline, which is not a whopping high figure. But when the same steep fall was maintained for the coming years as well, the company got a fair lead amongst its counterparts.
It further cut its business travel by 2%, which doesn’t strike much in the first go. But considering that 3000 of its US employees signed up for a mass transit program for daily commute is an example in its own.
Agencies that fail to match up with their carbon footprint are the ones that rely on outside firms to run on. An example is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. More than a third of its overall consumption is coal-fired generated, for which it needs long-term contracts with other agencies. Now, while most of the sources have moved to healthier, cleaner, and greener alternatives, LAWDP will still be forced to buy allowances from them. Also, since the carbon footprint is too big, the cost of operation is also going to be too big.
Clearly said, you cannot manage what you do not measure. The advantage of displaying a company’s carbon footprint on the website and other external communication are too many to count, and too important to miss. We hope you too take the crucial step in the coming times, and come forth as a responsible business.